Method of and apparatus for handling and shaping metal wool



C. FIELD Aug. 27, 1935.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND SHAPING METAL WOOL Filed Nov. 16, 1932 ll Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Crosby fl'el BY 2 i ATTORNEY Aug. 27, 1935. c. FIELD METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND SHAPING METAL WOOL Filed Nov. 16, 1932 ll Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR Crosby field Aug. 27, 1935. C FIELD 2,012,908

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND SHAPING METAL WOOL Filed NOV. 16, 1952 ll Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR Crosby ilk/d ATTORNEY C. FIELD Aug. 27, 1935.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND SHAPING METAL WOOL 11 Sheets-sheet 4 Filed NOV. 16, 1932 QNN ATTORNEY Aug. 27, 1935. c. FIELD 2,012,908

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A lNvENToR Gvsy nwd ATTORNEY c. FIELD 2,012,908

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND SHAPING METAL WOOL Aug. 27, 1935.

INVENTOR 003? field ATTORNEY Aug. 27, 1935. c. FIELD 2,012,908

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND SHAPING METAL WOOL Filed Nov. 16, 1932 ll Sheets-Sheet 7 W'Tkll.

INYENTOR ATTORNEY FFZIZ.

Aug. 27, 1935. c. FIELD 2,012,908

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND SHAPING METAL WOOL Filed Nov. 16, 1952 11 Sheets-Sheet 8 K j l 349 13 1 AV A! 15 14 k .59 i i 12 17a 19/ 19 191 r 191 19 19/ 7c W 19 B INVENTOR Aug. 27, 1935. c. FIELD 2,012,908

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND SHAPING METAL WOOL Filed Nov. 16, 1952 ll Sheets-Sheet 9 INVENTOR Crosby lie/a ATTORNEY Aug. 27, 1935. Y c. FIELD 2,012,903

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND SHAPING METAL WOOL Filed Nov. 16, 1952 11 Sheets-Sheet 10 2/? 9 4 la Ill U 2% 24- 2'22 ZU- F00 I [23 2Z3 I 249 152 A g7 m9 Q1 9?. 5%

0 I my 235 w 7 o M 2 9 -L 1J5 22 0 25% 25 18? Z w 2?? 241 22a 3? I Q fl 2 1 Z? M 10/ 7/3 214 INVENTOR arosy file/d ATTQRNEY Aug. 27, 1935.; c. FIELD 2,012,908

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR HANDLING AND SHAPING METAL WOOL Filed Nov. 16, 1932 11 Sheets-Sheet 11 I l lIll7///I.

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at A"? J86 J 15/ 7 o 0 F7? 73* r #2 6 19 Q93 19 75 Elwin? {d 1 13/ 1'05 1e I 1911;; 2 00 1% d H4 ATTORNEY Patentecl Aug. 27, 1935 PATENT OFFICE i MVETHOD' or .AND'APPARATUS FOR F'HANA "j {DLINGANDCSHAPING METAL WOOL' tasty Field, Brooklyn, N. Y. flApplicatibnlldovember 16,1932, Serial NoQ'642,897

18 Claims.

My present method'afndapparatusj were devised primarily for handling metalwoolandfor forming it into "balls or rolls" of standard shape and approximately uniform densities, even where the supply of wool is of somewhat varying density; and an important object has been to provide meansfor effecting theseoperations' by automatic mean's," but it jwill' be obvious that various features of my invention are. applicable in other relations and for otherfpurposem In present commercial practice, ,the wool is formed from wire by serrated cutting knives, the serrations varying from, say, 200 per inch down to '50 per inch, "according to the grade of wool to be cut thereby. In any event, the fibres are of extremely minutej cross-sec'tion and are more or less curly as" well as springy, and'con siderable numbers of, fibres cutbyadjacent serrations are moreor less intertwined in long strands, which'often 'iinclucle knotted or matted portions. These fibres -and's'trands' collect in flufiymasses.

Heretofore the uniformity of Jo'oth'the density and size and shape of the product has been dependent entirely on the skill of .thejoperator in manually plucking the right amount. of wool from the supply bundle and manually shaping it into a small crudeball ,or roll' of.' approximately the size and shape required. Even experienced operators were not able to produce balls or rolls of very uniform density or thickness because, howeverskillful the operator might be in judging the'qu'antity oiwool, each portion is so light that judgment of .uniformity of its weight is extremely cliflicult; the more so because of the irregular density'and the sometimes matted condition of various portions of the wool supply. Because of the stubborn, .springy' quality of the fibres, it is impractical to manually fluff out and uniform the denser portions. 1 l

The problem of' securing sufiiciently uniform density is complicated'by the ;factthat itfis undesirable to subject the wool eitherto cutting operations or to compacting, pressures beyond the elastic limit or the fibres, because the presence of an excessively lai'ge number of broken strands and projecting ends in the..completed product is undesirable on account o'f the danger of scratching orpricking the fingers of the user.

Furthermore the operation of manually rolling or balling the small bunches (if ivv'ool plucked from the supply serves to'accentuaterather than remedy any non-uniformities of density'JWhich may exist. Tangles and mats in-ithe wool remain, and are but ill concealed by rolling and compacting which takes place under manually applied pressure. Such mats and lumps in-fact make it 'diificult to roll the small bundle ofwool into even nearly true spheres or cylinders. The, further pressure subsequently applied when these 5 balls :01 rolls are used as abrasives or cleansers tendsto quickly reduce them to shapeless wads, matted in some places and loose and'stringy in others;

It is among the objects of thep'resent'invention, therefore, to providea method and apparatus for utilizing the large non-homogeneous bundles of wool as they come from the wool .making machines, and after but slight manual V preparation, subjecting them to what might be called a mechanical homogenizing processithat is to say, a process that renders the density of thewool substantiallyuniform. I then segregate small uniform quantities of wool from this uni- I, formlydense product, and formthem into'rolls or balls or pads ofcorrect size and shape, These results are accomplishedwithout resortingto the use of heavy pressure or shearing mechanism:

Another object is to provide a machine for such purposes, which is fully automatic, except for a simple preliminary operation wherein the bundles are elongated jandflthinned into crude, non-uniform relatively thick strips or ribbons, which are continuously supplied to the intake end of the machine. This operation affords ample opportunity for inspection and rejection of nonuniform or otherwise defective ordirty wool, as well: as any fpreign matter. Another object is to provide such a machine in which the operation of homogenizing the infspected but; crudahon-um'form supply into a continuous strip or ribbon of uniform density, and V crosssection; and the further operations 'of-subdividing the ribbons, spinning the segregated portions andejecting the completed articles, may be 40 accomplished with greatrapidity.

Insofar as the problem of taking this crude .ribbon of Wool and rendering its density uniform is concerned "the present method and apparatus ,followsubstantially or identically the principles disclosed in my copending application Serial No. 557,630 filed August 17, 1931, v

Such apphcation discloses mechanism forfeedmg a continuous length of manually formedsup- 1 ply strip into and through a constricting tunnel by needles mounted in intermittently acting four motionflfeed mechanism (the exact actioniof .whichwill be later described) whereby thecross section and density of the strip are rendered uniform. Also in manner similar to that deretracting stroke of the latter.

mounts the wool conveying needles, Fig; '5 is a transverse sectional view therethrough, taken approximatelyonthe line 555 of Bi g scribed inmy prior application the leading end of theribbon is delivered to a tearing mechanism at the discharge end of the tunnel where predetermined wads are torn off by a barbed dart reciprocating at right angles to the direction of travel of the wool ribbon and delivered to the forming mechanism.

Here it is stripped from the dart upon the As'the wad is released from the strippers a pair of rapidly r0- tating needles enter it from opposite sides and spin it into a ballor roll the size and shape of which is predetermined by the cross sectional One formed roll or ball shape of the chamber. I r I is ejected from the chamber when'the'ne rt wad of wool is carried thereinto bythe'dart.

The density and 'volume of the wool presented by the feed mechanism being substantiallythe I same for each stroke of the dartjthe wool pulled ofi is very closely the same both in volume and will be more evident from the following descrip tion 'in connection with the accompanying drawings in which 7 Fig. 1 is a somewhat schematic view in vertical longitudinal section, disclosing"diagrammatically .si'eries of mechanisms which successively operate upon the wool from the time it enters the machine as a, crudely formedribbon, "until it leaves machine as a formed ball, v

Fig. 1a is a'fragmentary plan view of one of the tunnel entrances,

Fig.' 2 .is a side elevationallview or end View 0 1 ma i e 7 Y i V f-Fig. 3 is a fragmentary rear elevational view. of the m h Fig. "l is a'plan view of the movable table which Fig. 6 is a side elevational view'illustrating the -mechanism for operating "the-needle carrying table, this view showing the table the V s ra the feedingstroke thereof,

Fig. 7 is a View similar to Fig; G'but'illustrating the position of 'the'table and its actuating mechanismafter the; completion 'of the feeding stroke and afterlthe table has been lowered and ready to be retracted prior' to reentry of the needlesinto thematerial,

Fig. 8, is anenlarged sectional detail on the hin s of Fi 6,

{Fig.9 is'a sectional detail on the line 9 8 of Fig. 19 is an enlargedside elevational'view. oi the packer needle mechanismshowing in full lines the position of this mechanism subsequent to 'r'elea' se of the springspandin dotted lines, the position of the mechanism when the packer needles have been completely retracted from the Fig. 11 is a view similar to Fig; 10, but illustrate ingthe position'of the parts at the end of the ti si roke ndin a h a eee e a ly h ave a density of are about to begin their upward movement to reenter the wool ribbon,

Fig. 12 is a rear elevational view showing several sets of packer needle mechanism and taken approximately on the line l2-l2 of Fig. 10,

Fig. 13 is a view of the packer needle latch mechanism taken approximately at right angles to the showing of such mechanism in Figs. 10

and. 11,

Fig. -14 is avertical sectional view showing the dart in'its lowermost position after having torn a wad of wool from the ribbon and carried it into the forming chamber and showing the stripper needles moved inwardly ready to strip the vwoolfrom ,'tl dart when the latter rises,

Fig."'1'5' a similar view but showing the dart startingon its upward stroke, the stripper need les retracted and the balling needles engaged With the Wild, I i

Fig. 16 is a similar viewbut showing the position of he parts with the dart fully retracted, the'pall completely formed and the wool ribbon advanced toagain bring itsleading end under the a t Fig. "17

W if nib' th c ies sham d h ously formed ball, now released by thefballing nees les d r ad to d ete s? thro h he e bottom r the chamber,

7 i id; mam s new q: the tear tube and its stationary'strippers talgen on line Iii-I8 of Fig.

v Fig. 19 is enlargedperspective'view of the e is a similar View showing the position of the parts when the dart is carrying a new 2Q=isaj sectionalvplan View of the battery l 'o a st p n ndh mr mng ech m m Fig. 21 is" an "end view thereof Fig 22 ect'on afplan view or the balling edle m n snc at meq hsnism ak on "4246 Fi '23 a d TFigL 25 'i s a vertica sectional view through one e fifielet n ian farm n un taken on "t ji ine 2 F g 29 G neral m gration,

'The relationof thecomplete train of mechajni i i whit n success vely enemies h steel "reli n 22. tim ite-41e s he m e until e ivleave t i the io m of pr r y jfPdtaHs q mus. 9 ma er s illustrated fcheree i e l F e-l. Y I e' e to la eihs trusi ly'l m o m steel"wo5l*ribbonfR ona conveyer belt ill at he ar vt e;IIie l.. 1e-. In. der to, a n

li ee est iito m tr d eelieity in h sh ."li'r di e' l we a haped ibbon should prefer- "between one-halt and twice gf24 is ayertical sectional detail on line; 1

LQ, eaqhg f bq l pa e nte its 1..

to-trace the rectangular pathmb, c, d, (Figfill) They all move along lines parallel with a, up-

-set-of packer needles I3 is yieldab ly inom tedon the latter-iii turn being-rigidly unitd byhoribase plate "5, so that said packer'needles have an I independent longitudinal movement superposed on the-four-motion feed of said" table'i li." The -latter'-movement brings allhee'clle's l4 "and- I3 into-feeding engagement withzthe wool but needles-l3 are under springtension and operate to nomogemze thewool and then press it forward against needles I4.

- The base 16' and table I5 cause thefneedles l4 wardly through slits inthe tunnel bottom and impale the ribbon. They then move forwardly to advance'the ribbon parallel with b. They then withdraw downwardly parallel with c and move "back through a horizontalimath, parallel withd, ready'for another up thrust to again reenter and impale the ribbon at anew point and advance it'another step. *The packer needles Iii-have similar movements except that their horizontal movement is through a greater range and except that they are non-positively impelled throughse'parate springs. That is to say, whenthe two sets of needles have been entered into the mass, the

packer needlesv which have been previously latched against the tension of theiractuating springs are suddenly released and their springs draw them swiftly forward, each to a point de- *termined"by theincreasing density (resilience) of the wool which itv compresses against the rearmost'conveyor needles I. After this spring actuated compression'stroke of these needles l3 has been completed, they move forward together with the conveyor needles M and assist in advancing the ribbon.

Continuing the general description of operation in connection with Fig. ,1, it is to be noted that as the ribbon reaches the end of the tunnel after a forward feed stroke (Fig. 16), a barbed dart l1 moves downwardly through a tear tube l8 in the tunnel bottom, carrying with it a wad of'wool from the end of the ribbon (Fig. 17). This wad is deposited in an open-topped, openbottomed forming chamber 2 0'here illustrated as a cylinder. .As the dart llistarts its upward motion,'str'ipper fingers 2| (Fig. 14;) work through the wall of the cylinder 20, stripping the wool Iwad from thedart. After the dart withdraws, stripper fingers 2| also withdraw and simultaneously the :rotating balling needles I8 move into the forming cylindenpinching the wad between them and spinning it into the spherical form (Fig. 19)

which is determined by the circular cross section of the forming chamber. Just before the dart reachesits lowermost position with a newwad 'of wool, the spring needles withdraw, thus freeing 'the'previously' formed ball which is then ejected by the new wad. The ejected ball B slides down the chute, 2E and is carried off on the standards 3|, provide bearings for the main shaft Castings 30 at their lower ends, are prefer-' ably connected by, one or moresubstantial cross beams 33 upon which the standardor standards 3 I are mounted and the upper corners of the end =castings 30 are connected by suitable longitudinally extending massive channel bars,'s'uch as 34,

' cross heads; such joints being zonta1fra'mebars'35.

' Mounted upon the tops of the channel barslfl,

are longitudinallyie'xtending channel frames 36, of less massive construct-ion. Extending fore and 4 "aft of the machine and with their ends mounted on the frame bars 36, are a plurality ofup-tiirned chann'el pieces 31 arranged in laterally abutting frelationship: The-rear portionso-f these channel pieces cooperate-in forming the tunnels through which the ribbons'of metal wool-are passed during the operation of the'machine, butin addition Itothis function, the member-s31 add generally to the rigidity of thestruc ture. 1

i Rising from the 'upperforward and rear corners ofthe machine and connected 'to suitablebrackets 38, are braces 39, the enlarged-uppereiids' 40 y of which are bolted'to horizontal rigid angleiron" cross piecesdisposed well above the -'channel bar plates v The' ends of the frame members 4|, near'their point of junction with the-rods 39,

"are connected by the longitudinally" extending rigid frame bars 42, two of these bars bei'ng er'n-'-;.

"played and arranged one behind the other. Each 0f the bars near its end provides a'rigid pointjof 1 attachment for the upper end of afvertical guide red 43; Travelling 'upon' these *guide rods, are a pairof cross heads '44, each carrying a'set ofj.

darts; H. 'The darts are guided through'suit-.-

able sleeves llb in longitudinallyextendingguide framebars 44a carried by standards'j43." The darts may have ball joints 11a (Fig; 3)fat the' pinned to prevent axial rotation. I

The main shaft'32, which has been previously referred to is driven from any suitable sourceand upon this shaft,are" mounted'the cams which directly or indirectlycontrolthe actuation of near- 13' all of the operating parts of the machine; 'suc h for instance, asthe packing needles, the'movable needle table, the cross heads and their darts, the stripper fingers 2| and the balling needles 19.

Due to the considerable" number of leversand cams and linksandshafts which are employed to operate these variousmechanisms fromthe main shaft, the modus ope'randiof the various parts can b j etter understood from sep r t detailed 'illustratio'ns thereof. 2 1

. The tunhe ls'wigs. i andla.) 3 V e The bottoms "of the tunnels llare preferably flanged sides fitting within the channel -piecesf31 'and'extending'from the re'arthereof to a point adjacent the discharge openings in'the channels, the openings constituting the mouths of the tear tubes 18. Thehoods terminate abruptly against an abutment plate '48, constituting partof anallar 49' through which the darts I! .pass.

, Thechannel members3'! are provided with a longitudinally extending, series 7 of slots 50, through which the packer needles l3 and the conveyor needles l4 work .to' engage and operfateup on the ribbon of wool;

The conveyor needles and their and goperating. mechanism (Figs. 4 to 9) ,7

formed by the upwardlyfacing channel pieces 31, and'complementing these channel'pieces are the hood portions [L'which are providedwith the flaring mouths I2 above referred to and with by the 'same table as'that which bears the convnected to the opposite toggle 15.

table and its mode ofoperation. t, 1 g e Q ,fl'he'table which is shown-in topyplan ,view and longitudinal section in .Figs. sand 5 respec- ,tively, includes a...'relati vely; lar-ge. rectangular -:frame consisting-of the f ront and rear :frarne members 55andthe side frame members 56. The extended ends oi the bars 55 :are provided lwith rollerss5l. Inwa'rdly, of the bars- ,5, are bars 55 veyor needles, the invention maybe more readily; understood by describing the detailsgof this connected by frame members -5'l, ,parallel 'with ,bars .55. The members 51 are connected by. any

suitable number of longitudinallyextending frame, bars 58, which provide a support for the tableplatesifi, which carry the setsot staggered conveyorneedles. V

.The rearmost of the crosslfra melbars h is :connected to the rear frame bar by a series of vertically disposed plates 8D,which asfwill be -,notedin Figs-10 and 11, serve tomoun't the carrying mechanism and actuating mechanismfor the packer needles l3. 7 r 1 Two. sets of plates 59 ofsdifierent length are shown, one set consisting offive plates and the other of four, The needlesl 4 are fixedly mounted upon the plates and .work through the slots inthe "tunnel bottomv as previously describedj {Ihe j mechanism for actuating the table consisting of the various frames 55, 56, 51 and 58 andthe plates .59,"andfor correspondinglyactuating the members 60, which are; secured by brackets. to the barsI55, and 58, may be best seen from Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive. I i

The rollers 5'1 are arranged to-travel in horizontal grooves 62 inblocks 63, the latterinturn sliding in blocks 64, fixed to the upper corners of, the end frame castings 30 of the machine.

The mechanismffor imparting the desired murway: motion to the tabl'efso. that the conveyor needles may. perform their function of ;intermittently advancing the ribbons through the ,tunnels, consists of means .for periodically, v'rtic'ally, reciprocating the blocks 63- and inter mittently horizontally reciprocating the table with respect to the blocks, ii

The desired fore and a'ftlmovement imparted to the needle carrying table. through the instru- .endof the lever 10 is'pivotallyccohnected atjn to the free end of alever 13. fulcrumed on'a'is'hiaft M, projecting laterally fromthe tahle structuren Two setsof eccentrics and levers'are providedjior ooaction with the two shaftsl'l l, "which'as seen ,fr omflFigf i, arerigidly mounted in'the' frame bars 56 and '51 and proj ect laterally there-beyond. It will beiapparent'that inasmuch as the pivot ll is fixed to the frame and the'pivot 14' fixed to the movable table, the operation of. the eccentric tends to alternately increase and'lessenjthejdis- 6 tance between the pivot points I'll-and II. and

thereby impart the desired horizontah'itra'nslational movement to the. table, such motion being permitted by the arrangement oi the rollers 51 inthegroovesfiil.

The mechanism for imparting the up-anddown V motion to the table, includes pairslof toggle levers arranged at the corners. of the machine One 7 t .to theposition of Fig.10,[th is spring being an- 'chored to the frame plate 58fa t one'end 'and'atits lever 16! of each pair hasa stationary pivotja's'lat aoiaeos llon the end'casting and its f ree endis con-V ;87., turning with the main shaft of e the, maohine..

Theends of: the levers .18 and 19, are connected respectively to front and backpairs, of toggles 15, 'l 6,- and aspring B -S Qanchoredat one endof the machine frame, is connected to anarrnlfl l on the lever- 'lfl tending to draw the latter to the right and thereby maintainlever 8L against its cam.

,It will apparentthat, as the lever 8 l is engaged by the low side'of its-cam, the spring '83 draws levers 18, 9,l to the right collapsing the: toggles and drawingztheblocks 5 3, downwardly. As the a lever strikes the high vside of its cam, however, the levers'lB, I9, are drawn tothe left, straightening out the toggles andelevatingthe blocks 63.

.Bythis motion the table is raised ,7 and lowered,

It will-be understood oi course thatthe timing of eccentric 65 and blocks 63s1iding in the block 64.

earns 82 is such that the two reciprocating mo- ;tions alternate. That is to say, the table moves first upwardly, then forwardly, then downwardly and thenrearwardly,

as'indicated by dotted lines a, b, 0,; d, Fig 11.

The packing needles and th'eir operating mecha- Theseries o fgfo r e andlaft extending plates 60 serveto provide -,bearings ,for a rock shaft 85.

Fixedupon this shaft, is a latch arm 86, provided with a tail piece 81, adapted for'coactionwith the projecting portion 88 of a'statio'nary earn ,89,

which. is bolted otothe'rwise secured 'at upon he fixed frame w'o rk 3l of the machinathe bolts passing through slots 9i to accommodate for slight adjustment of the cam, and th'elatter being locked a a nst movement when inadiu'sted position by a screw 92, working through a; flange 93 of the frame work, andengaging the fiat face 94 of a projection onfthe'fcam. 'A pair. of. ere} pins'95 and96 mounted in plates 69, provide pivotal f ul'crums' for the lower, apertured ends of pairs of sets of parallel links9'l and 98, theuppr, ends oflthese' setsof links being connected to common hori'zonta'llinks 99 by the jjcr'oss pins 00; {The horizontal link members 99, 1 are the elements which 'carryfthe upwardly pro- .jjetztihg packingneedles I35. Q

V "TiCoiljed contractileQsprings ,lfljl; anchoredlto the firame member, SBQand acting on spring tension adjustingscrewsllfi carried by brackets I03, fixed to the links 91, normally. tend to; swing these links tome right from:'thel'p osition oi Eig.,1l through 1 an arc, avg/showninjdotteddihes, toward the position 'shovvninFig. 10:. v

, Thelinksfil, as and '99 are arranged in sets of sfi ve at eaehtunnel andthere are three needles 13, on each link,,so-thatthere are fifteen packing needles acting on the'wool atthe mouth of each itunnele flh sna ns i e p a es i p rab y uponlt'he rock shaft carry rollers 105." These Toners I05 serveto engage links '91; and swing themto the left al'ongarc yy at times *when the rock shaft is rotated in counterclockwise direction by theengagementof the latch tailjpiecetl,

"withits associated'cam 8B2 springlll" normally tendsto'urgefthe latch on a crank arm I01, projecting from acollar I08, :pleted,fthe latch' 86 is suddenly released, n rfixed on the rock shaft 85.

As themain needle table is shifted rearwardly to the position of Fig. 11, the latch 86 is swung downwardly by the engagement of member 81, with the'cam 88, the downward movement of the latch'tending to rock the shaft 85, thereby rocking the-links I 04 and their connected arms'I05 in counterclockwise direction to the shaft, the cross bars I05 during this motion, acting toswing the links 9? to approximately the position of Fig.

11 and to tension the 'actuatingsprings IN, the

tension of which regulates the force with which the packer needlesv work against the Wool when theseneedles'arereleased after having been elevated to the position of .Fig. 10. With the parts in theposition of:'Fig. 11, however, the needles are still below the table and keeper mechanism is provided to engage and retain the latch 86 during the upward movement of the needles intoengagernent with the Wool. Such mechanism is shown in Figs. 10, 11 and 13.

The mechanism for restraining movement of the latch 86. during upward movement of the needles I3 and .for subsequently. releasing the latch so'that the packing needles may be drawn for- ,ward by their springs I0 I includes a pair of guide members I 0, fixed upon a pair of adjacent frame bars 63 and providing a slidable mounting for a keeper bolt II I. .The intermediate portion of this bolt is fiattened as .at I I2, and straddled by a bifurcated lever I I3, the furcations of the leverjbeingrecessed or slotted as at IM to accommodate a pin or stud II5, extending through the center of the keeper bolt.

' That end of the bolt which serves as the keeper isprovided with a cam face IIG to be engaged small bracket I24, bolted to the under face of the table 31. I

In order to maintain the roller I22, pressed against its track I23, a-eoiled contractible spring I25,.connects one of the bearing pieces I I0, with an upstanding pin I26 fixed to thelatch bar. The spring acts to draw the latch bar to the right (Fig. 13), thereby rocking the lever II3 to the right and elevating the plunger. As the latch bar'83 isswung downwardly from the position of Fig. to the position of Fig. 11, and engaged under the keeper bolt I I I, such bolt is temporarily forced rearwardly by the action of the latch bar on cam surface H6 and theroller I22 is temporarily withdrawn from engagement with the rail I 23. But it is immediately snapped back by the spring I25, as soonas the latch bar has reached the position of Fig. 11.

-With the parts in the position of Fig. 11, the table 59 and the structure which is rigid therewith, including the frame plates 60, is ready to rise. On the upward movement of the table, it will be apparent that the bracket I moves upwardly with respect to the plunger H9, as the result of which the lever H8 is swung downwardly and the lever I I3 is swung to the left, withdrawing the keeper bolt so that asthe upward movement of the packing needles is comthe action of'the springs IOI. have completed their spring impelled stroke they are advanced forwardly with conveyor neemitting spring I06 to urge the latch to theposition of Fig. 10 and carrying cross bar I05 out of theway of members 91. This leaves the springs 'IOI. free to. draw the needle carrying bars 99,

smartly to the right.

Each of the five needle carrying bars of a set is independently movable 'on-this spring impelled packing stroke, to the end that needles acting upon the wool of less density can move forward more easily and farther than those acting'on the denser woolcand the repeated impalingand pressing. action thus effected renders the ribbon -of' substantially uniform density} The elements the throw of the bar 99 along are x. This depends on density (resilience) of the measured :length. of wool previously deposited between adjacent needles I3 and I4;.and this in turn will depend onthe. varying length and the average cross-section times density of each" portion of 1 new supply strip that was taken in'by the needles I3 on the preceding forward stroke. The timing of the carrier needle motion with .the conveyor needle motion,'i. e., the motion of the main. needle table is as follows: The conveyor needlesand packer needles move downwardly together- As they move to the left together, an added effective ..translatory motion is imparted to the needle bars 99 through the intermediacy of the actuating members I05, which are controlled by the rock shaft 85. As the parts reach their extreme left hand position,

shown in Fig. 11 it will be seen that the packer needles have moved considerably further than the conveyor needles and the packer needles are now latched! The two sets of needles move upwardly together into engagement with the wool,

'whereupon the latch mechanism whichcontrols the packer needles is released. The latch is smartly retracted by the relatively strong spring I06, thus withdrawing members I05 and leaving the packer needles free to snap forwardly under T dles I4 (due'to the fact that both sets of needles are mounted on the common carrier mechanism) After needles I3;

and the ribbon of wool is advanced one step. In

other words, that throw of the packer needles which is'eifected by the springs IOI, is entirely I an excess-throw for the purpose of stringing out 'the wool variably, according to its density, to

make it uniform; and then uniformly compacting it against needles I I. This motion is of course superposed on the further motion of the needles with the table I6, which advances theribbon through the tunnel. I

' 'As' before explained, the lag and lead of adja -p cent independently spring pressed needles causes those engaging denser wool to'lag behind, out of lateral registry with neighboring needles engag- Tin'g less dense portions, and this will permit the pressed needles.- Moreover, the so-oalled needles -;-fulcrum =l-33, there lispro'vided a second iful- -are preferably 'thin :taper'ed lblades'. havingiztheir --front edges vertical. Consequently; every" time one of these Eneedles" penetrates a.. dense spot; it splitsgandstretcheszit lengthwise of theribbon 5 iandpthe swiftspring' impelled forward movement of the needle applies additional longitudinal :lstretching and tearing tension. .-:All the move- 'm'ents are relatively shortso that thexabOVeladrtions' are repeated several timesion the? same {lengths of'wool'ribbon. fWhilethe needles 13 have been properly called pack ing needle fi thispexpression necessarilyi'im- :plies that they are fmea'suring' needles,r.because their fpackingf rnovement being by spring pressure-,rtheypack a variable length ofrstandard sdensityj jwocl inj theispace between front needle i 3;: andrea'r needle "I 4 (Fig; 1 1) and this variably "shortened Ttravel of-needles I3 along are .r,-will --necessarily measure the "lengthof new -'supply .strip' that theywill iengage'andieed forwardon ithe', next ,forward stroke. "For :instance, ifi-.-the volume and density-of a given portion of supply strip happened. to *be." great 1 enough; the needles l3. mightrpr'ess forward only-shalt the are x;

Which' case the length of new supply "strip which they will =ine'asure off on the .next "stroke; will: be

islength' of line bitplus only :one' half arc alga-"etc. z-Iri this connection; it is to be remembered that there is some resistance to: forward" drag of the :s'upply strip by needles-zl3, i'arid 'th'eirforward i spring movement being" relatively sudden,-. there --w-ill be some stretchingofithe supplyfstrip'incthe rear of needles 13 which explains why the; sup- -plyfstrip may.varyfin"cross=seotion times density, from 5 twice 'to'tha'lf :?that required for the final ribbon.

1 Darts anditheir-operating mechanism (Rigs-f1,

- .12 and 14to '17-) and 'these links in turn' are pivotally connected zat- -their lower ends as at l3fieto' thefre'e ends of levers 137; pivoted upon: a common fulcrum rod li38,euinterniediate their ends. Wellbabove the *cruming" 'sh'aft it?) upon which are pivotedi the i'upper' ends of toggle levers I40. Ass'ociated toggles il lvpivotally connected as at l 42; tothe ends '.0f the levers l 31; have" their ends pivotally conenacted to thefree endsbfthe levrsMDaS at'-'| 43. For breaking" and straightening "the toggles 1 40, -*|4l,and' thereby rocking the levers l3! about their iulcrums I38, to eifect vertical reciprocation -of the'links I 35 "and the'dart carrying cross heads 244 10 which they are" connected, I *provi'de'an eccentric l i fixedt upon the main shaft 32 ofi'the machine; This eccentric is encircled by f a 'rin'g r145," carrying. a bracket M6 whicheisjconnected to the aligned toggleslevers' ldll. 1 lnor'der't'o accommodate-for the cliiferent dis- -tances' of-the two sets of :links" I 35," from' i their controlling eccentrimthetwo' toggle. links 1 4 I; l 4 l ;areof slightly different lengths;- as' are -1th8 two levers 1 1371 l31; which they'control; Fig. Zshows with it into said tear tube.

:aoraeos iinfl full'lines. the extreme uppermost position'of a plurality of vertical rows of downwardly and outwardly inclining-barbs or needles I48. As the darts-move downwardly through the collars49,

that part of the ribbon which has been fed fora ward across the top of tear tube I8, is impaled by the dart on its downward stroke, and is carried The wad of wool is held without slippage around'the needles of the dart by being compressed between thedart and the'sides of the tear tube l8; andthe ribbon of tion until after the dart has traveled far'enough down in the tear tube to pull out. or break off the fibers of the impaled wad W; from the ribbon R; that is held stationary by'needles I4.

It will be noted that this free end of the ribbon includes la supported border portion around the unsupported'portion that over-lies the tube 18. At the left it includes wool 'shown between'the front holding teeth I4 and the tube I8; and at the right it includes an equal length that projects into recess When the dart engages the center of this area of ribbonjthese border portions tend to fold back on the "dart," thus; contributing to the symmetry of'the wad and the firmness with which it" fits between the dart and the wall of tube l8.

. The torn-off and somewhat compressed wad W is'then carried byithedart into the associated cylinder 28 which constitutes a continuation of the tear tube. On the'up stroke of the darts,

"the wad is stripped fromthe dart by the stripper needles 2 I, which work through the cylinder walls.

- As the dart rises','the, forward motion of the nee- 'dles I4 c'ausesthe ribbon to partly cover the top of tube 18 before the dart has had time tocompletely pass up out of collar 48; "49; and tendency of this wool 'to be carried up by the dart is corrected by providing the stationary stripperneedles 50; which project radially inwardly from the collar 48. It will be understood, of course,'that 'the rowsof impaling needles on the darts are out of registration with the two sets of stripper needles 2| and l58'to the endthat there will be no interference between'these sets of needles. For a similar reasonfthe darts are firmly held:in the 'cross heads '44, against rotation or twisting during their vertical reciprocation.

g Forming. chamber arrangement I *'Before discussing the details of the mechanism which-ractuatesthe stripper fingers and balling nee'dles,'referencemay be had to'Fig. 20 for a better; understanding of the general arrangement bf the individual cylinders or forming chambers. There are two rows of wad receiving cylinders arranged one' behind the other and with the cylinders of each-row'staggered withrespect to the' cylinders of the oppositerow. 'In' the'illustrated embodiment-of the machine, there are members"! l4 than the other. The longer balling {needle or'balling needle-shaft'may have an extra bearing at 224 in a post-rising from one of 1the ;fra me bars 2 l4.

' ably-less width than the, teeth of the idle-gears 12 22; sogthat as the ballipgeneedlesgshift' inwardly :and outwardly, gears 223' may travel; axially ;without;getting out of: mesh. with "the gears;222.

' There arethus provided along each of the frame bars ,2-,l4, sets f,,,r,el ative1y small; balling -needle;actuating gears intermeshed with rela- ;tively large wide idle gears. "By-drivin any gear -of-thi's train itjwill be apparentthat the entire set of gears will be actuated and the two sets of teears areecpnnected for synch oncusim vem bvzas countershaft- 23!! 1 "Fiig.;2 a y ne at its aendsgearsina 'Eig..,:;3) :meshine :w t w pp ..sit,e,-gears;222 and'pfgthe same size as these gears. ;'-1lhe:m. a-.ns: f r r vi eral of th gears c n --ma.in shafts! of the mach ean e h e wit azsk wrsear 123 carr ed b shaft?? wh co 0 :22 L-of oneof the idle-gears 212 2. 7

. cIihe me ns i rzactuatins the push-P1 ro e l iefindrifl i' whic econtrol: thac m ,8 a ezsnectivelvzis as; f llow Moun e p n t ma shaft :31; pi the-.mac i easrarmast r control. a '23 5;-f or, all, of the; balling; needlezcarns I82. 1 Simi- 11arly..m0unted. upo h szsha taca 2 whi eontrolsla l-ofi hezs r pn ri e d e cam :aAs=-.be ti:seen e 1101 121 5. :21 the h 3 iha mivotect thereon ztheylow hend f a ev this llevemnearzitstfreeend carrying. a roller 238, which travels on the surface. oizther rnaster hallingineedle ham-52.35..-":'Iherfree;end of the lever-2 31, is piv- -.oted; as .at1239 to :onen-end of. a link Zflrthe; other .end .ofisaid link. beingpivotedas at 24l-to;a crank plate e242 :fixed: upon;,'the-:rock1:shaft.- 12118. ;;T his shaf t. .in1.turncarries a plurality =,of. crank arms 2Q3X-ach :pivotallyi a connected; .as ,at: 244 to ;the end ofaone OfLIhB' push -pull rods-: I which: ac-

The stripper needle control cams 116 have (a generally similar --train of actuating mechanism. f'ThiS includes a lever-M5 pivoted'onshaft i 38 and carrying near its free end a rollerjMQ coacting ..with' the master control camfiBB for the stripper needles. ,,At its, free end the lever;,2 5 is pivotally ,connectedatfllto .the end .of alink 258,,the1atter .atlit's opposite, end: being pivotally connected ,to ,a', characteristic -.bl ade .249 fixed upon the rock -shaft [2,0 ,cThis rock: shaftcarries a; plurality. of ;cra -:arms-,-250-.1 =E c zc' a kc m ism vota v cem ctedas, a ifi to. t epu -nu rod 93 wh c operates one ofthe stripper finger camsylflfi r 65 I iiwh leztheroperation; of the-machine will. ,be. for

{the most. part-apparent from. the" foregoing ade- -scription, it willibe briefiysummarized as follows. LWith-the' parts in the-position of Fjig. 14 the dart I1 is at the lower end of its stroke -and'has carfr-ieddownwardly with-it a-somewhat compressed -s egregated; mass or' wad of .wool W. iflhe" needle .t b f s a t e l w mo p rof its fq r'wav' ,rec't l ne nmot on a d isinst readvr tartback 15 fqrt sr gdle stmke-tilheivst inper eedle cam's have fact that the cylinderis closertoaone of the frame ,The balling needle gears. 2 2 3. are of consider-' wstitutesi .an-rexten io r ,ofr-the :s ub' sha t wool for cleaning and abrading purposes. cal of such materials are'finely drawn, rolled or extruded metal wires or strands that can be bunched or handled like shaved metal wool and can be used for similar purposes.

.tuate the; individual ballingneedle. control cams areas just.been actuated'to'move all of the stripper needles into the forming chambersabove. the wad of-wool ;impaled on the dart.

In-Fig. 1 5;the dart has started its upward movement.

balling needles have; entered the forming chambers and impaled or pinched the wad between them. These continuously rotating needles have already started to shape the mass into spherical form; At; this1time.the conveyor needle table has started on its rearward stroke.

By the time thatflthe dart reaches the position needles have been withdrawn permitting the :formed wad-free tomove down to thebottomof thezforming chamber. If this wad contains a The stripperifingers have stripped thelwad of-wool from the dart and have been re- ;tracted bytheir cams and; at the same time the quantity of thermetal wool sumcient to be properly formed by spinning it in contact withfthe ,walls of the tube, the resilience remaining in the fibers of fully formed ball will be sufiicient to hold it in place in the tube, after the'needles havebeenretracted, until it is knocked out by the descending dart with its impaled wad of wool.

*;Itl,wi1l.beobserved that the formed balls are provided vwith diametrically opposite pockets therein formed by the balling needles. These pockets provide convenient depressions for handling the ball in use or they may serve to facilitate the introduction of a handle stick into the ball.-

The name metal woo is used in the present application merely for the sake of descriptive convenience; and is intended to, include any and all generally analogous substances regardless of whether they may be inferior or superior to metal As explained above, the words packing,

packer, or the like, are used in the specification to identify the spring pressed needles l3; and 'it is to be understood that in the claims these words are intended to implythe wool measuring as well as the wool packing? function.

The word balling is used in the specification to identify the rotary members I 9, the wad engaging ends of which are of small diameter so as to engage only a small area of the wad; and which in this case no form balls because the forming chamber is cylindrical; but it is to be understood lthatrin the claims this word balling is intended to imply their spinningand rolling action on the wool regardless of whether the product has spherical, cylindrical or other outline, and the ent is:--

,1. An apparatus of the character described including av forming chamber, means for carrying a .wad. of metal wool or thelike into the chamber,

means to strip the wool from the carrier, and rotary means movable to engage the wad ofw'ool at diametrically opposite points and spin the wad,

into a shape determined by the cross; sectional shape of the forming chamber.

2. An apparatus of the character described in- -cluding a forming chamber'into which a-wad of wool or the like is adap'ted to be inserted, and

means including a pair'of axially aligned rotary -means projected into the chamber from opposite sides thereof, engageable with the wool-at di-' ametrically opposite points and simultaneously .rotatable',to spin the wad into a shape predetermined by the cross sectional shape of he form opposite sides thereof, engageable with the wool at diametrically opposite points and 'simultaneously rotatable and means for yieldably pressing saidrotary-means into engagement with the wad.

. 4. An apparatus of the character described including a forming chamber into which a wad'of wool or the like is adapted to be inserted, means including a pair of axially aligned balling needles projected into the chamber from opposite sides thereof, engageable with the wool at diametrically opposite points and simultaneously rotatable about their axes to spin the wad into a shape predetermined by the cross sectional shape of the forming chamber, said needles being spring 1 pressed into engagement with, the wad, and means to retract the needles against the action of their springs and thereby permit release of the spun mass.

5. A machine of the characterdescribed including a ball forming chamber and means for shaping a wad in said chamber including continuously rotating axially aligned balling needles projected into the chamber from opposite sides thereof and movable longitudinally of themselves into and out of the chamber.

6. A machine of the character .described including a wad forming chamber, and means for rotating a wad in said chamber including rotatable axially aligned spinning needles movable ra-, dially intoand out of the chamber at opposite sides thereof, and spring means operative to advance the needles into wad impaling position.

7. A machine of the character described including a wad forming chamber, and-means for rotating a wad in said chamber including rotatable. axially aligned spinning needles movable radially into and out of the chamber at opposite sides thereof, spring means operative to advance the needles intowad impaling position and positive means for retracting the needles against the action of their springs.

8. In a machine of the class described a wad shaping chamber into which a wad of metal wool is adapted to be introduced, means for advancing the wad into the chamber, stripper means for engaging the wad and stripping it from its ad vancing means, spring means normally urging the stripper means into wad engaging position, and means for engaging and rotating the wad in said chamber after it is stripped from the advancing means to spin it into shape.

9. The combination with a forming chamber of :ao'ia eo's character described intimed relation.

a -barbed "dart reciprocable into and out' of said chamber to carry an impaled wad "of' wool-into the chamber; stripper needles movable 1 through the chamber-walls to strip the'wad from the dart, spinning needles engageable with i the w'ad after :1

his strippe'd from the dart to spin' the wad into 1c. The combination with a forming chamber of abarbed dart re'ciprocable into andout of said chamber and adapted to carry an" impaled wad of wool into the chamber, stripper needlesmov able through the chamber walls to strip-the wad from the dart, spinningneedles engageablewith thewad after it isstripped from the, dart to spin a shape predetermined by'the shape of the formthe wa'dinto-a shape predeterminedbytheshape of the forming-chamber dart-operating means',

stripper needle operating -m'eans; spinning eneedle-operating means,"and means f or:operating said dart-operating means',jsaid stripper-needle: operating means and said spinning needleaoper atingme-ansin properly timed relation.

11. The combination with "a forming'ichambe .25 of a barbed dart reciprocable into aridFoiitof said chamber and adapted to carry'an impaled wad of wool into the chamber, stripper needlesmove' able through the chamber walls to strip the wad v 1 1 the wad after it is stripped fro-mthe dart to spin thewad-into a shape predetermined by the shape from the dart, spinning needles engageable with} of the forming chamber and means to operate the dart and'needles and substantiallysimultaneously withdraw the stripper needles from the wad and move the spinning'needlesiin'to engage ment with the wad.

12. The combination with a forming chamber, of a holding device reciprocable into and out of said chamber andadapted to carry a wad of wool into said chamber, stripper devices movable through the chamber walls to strip the wad from the holding device, spinning devices engageable tating the'spinning devices and yieldably mov-' ing them inwardly at opposite sides of the chamber to engagea wad; and then outwardly 'to re-. lease the same, and means for operating'the holdi with the wad at opposite sides thereof after it ing device and stripper devices to cause the stripper devices to hold a wad in position to, be

' gripped by the spinning devices and "then release the wad tothe spinning devices. r

13. In a machine of the character described, a tube, means for advancing a ribboncf metal wool across. an end of the tube, means including ,a reciprocable wool-holding device to tear "a section" of wool from theribbon and force it 'into said tube, stripper needles moving radially through the tube to strip the wool from the device on the up stroke thereof, spinning needles moving radially through the tube into engagement-with: the

wad as the stripper needles are ,withdrawnfth'ere-b from, and means for operating thexstripper needles and the spinning-needles in properly individual wads of metal wool in'said chamber,

an impaling member, and means for straightclass describeifa line-reciprocating said impaling -rri ember into i the chamber to impale a wad therein and out of said chamber'to release the wad and means. 

